Nelson Mandela marries Graça Machel on his 80th birthday

Date: 18 Jul 1998
Updated: 18 Jul 2022

Nelson Mandela first married in 1944. He and his wife Evelyn had 2 children and divorced in 1957. A year later, he married Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. Their marriage survived his 27 years in prison, but ended in divorce in 1996. Shortly after his release from prison, Mandela met Graça Machel, the widow of former Mozambican president, Samora Machel. Apart from her involvement in the Mozambican liberation struggle, Graca Machel is known as an international advocate for women and children rights, and headed the first United Nations study on the impact of war on children. The couple decided to tie the knot on Nelson Mandela's 80th birthday. Their marriage was announced at his birthday celebration, which was attended by 2,000 international guests.

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01Graighall Wallis, F. (2000) Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar,
02 BBC News, (1998), Africa Mandela weds on his 80th birthday, 19 July [online], Available at www.bbc.co.uk [Accessed: 10 July 2013]

Last updated · 18 Jul 2022

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Nelson Mandela marries Graça Machel on his 80th birthday. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013374

South African History Online (2011) 'Nelson Mandela marries Graça Machel on his 80th birthday', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013374 (Accessed: 20 September 2026).

South African History Online, Nelson Mandela marries Graça Machel on his 80th birthday [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013374, (accessed 20 September 2026).

"Nelson Mandela marries Graça Machel on his 80th birthday." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013374. Accessed 20 Sept. 2026.

South African History Online. "Nelson Mandela marries Graça Machel on his 80th birthday." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013374.